School leavers shy away from courses tied to construction

POINTS requirements for most courses show that students are turning away from those tied to the dwindling economy, and construction in particular, opting instead for more general degrees.

Nearly half of all arts and social science degrees have had their points requirements rise since last year, following a slight rise in the proportion of Central Applications Office (CAO) applicants listing them as their first preference. One arts degree through Irish at National University of Ireland Galway is up 200 points to 505, possibly due to rising interest in translation jobs since Irish has become an official EU language.

NUI Maynooth assistant registrar John McGinnity said the strong rise in demand for arts reflects the fact that many students have chosen a broadly based degree during the economic downturn to allow them to choose from a range of work or further study options after they graduate.